NORMAL service will resume at Wilmslow train station after a summer of plenty for rail commuters.

Since May, hundreds of extra services have been diverted through Wilmslow station as engineers upgraded part of the West Coast Mainline.

But the work, which closed Macclesfield train station, is scheduled to finish this weekend, when engineers will begin work on track running through Wilmslow.

For the last four months, a special bus service has ferried rail commuters from across the borough into Wilmslow to meet inter-city connections.

Rail commuters were treated to a bumper timetable, with hundreds more inter-city trains stopping at the station each week.

But from Saturday, September 27, the summer bonanza is due to end when Macclesfield station is scheduled to re-open.

Weekend rail closures are planned until the new year when the Wilmslow station will close for four months.

From January to May 2004, Wilmslow commuters will be forced to take a temporary bus service to Stockport or Macclesfield to meet connections for Manchester and the South.

First North Western, the rail company in control of Wilmslow Station, will operate the coach service with contractor Fraser Eagle.

A spokesman for First North Western said: "First North Western would like to thank all customers travelling through Wilmslow Station for their patience during the West coast route modernisation work that has caused disruption to their journeys.

"More services than normal are currently running through the station, due to work being carried out on the Cheadle Hulme-Stoke line. From the week commencing September 28 this line will re-open.

"The line that runs between Cheadle Hulme and Crewe via Wilmslow will then close on Saturdays and Sundays until Sunday, January 4, with a limited service running between Manchester Piccadilly and Wilmslow.

"There will be a rail replacement bus service for customers wishing to travel during this period.

"Following this, the line will then be fully closed until May 22, 2004. Again, a rail replacement bus service will be provided for customers.

"First North Western have no plans to permanently close the station and apologise for any inconvenience this essential work may cause."

For further details regarding any of the engineering work mentioned, customers should ring National Rail Enquires on 08457 484950 or log on to www.firstnorthwestern.co.uk.